Uribe comes up huge with bases loaded for Sox

Dave van DyckTribune staff reporter

They also serve who only sit and wait.

Relegated to bench roles but slotted into the starting lineup Friday night, Brian Anderson and Juan Uribe drove in three runs between them as the White Sox won their ninth straight home game, 5-4 over Colorado, which has the major leagues' second-worst road record.

It was also their fourth straight interleague victory at the start of 15 consecutive against the National League. The White Sox remain the only major-league team the Rockies never have beaten.

The hero of the night was Uribe, whose last start was May 15 and last appearance May 31. His two-run single tied the game in a seventh-inning rally, and he scored the winner on A.J. Pierzynski's infield hit that gave the victory to reliever Matt Thornton.

"I showed him I have confidence in him and he made me look good," manager Ozzie Guillen said of Uribe. "I feel proud of him. He has been a tremendous professional about [not playing]."

Uribe and Anderson were part of a lineup that included Paul Konerko at designated hitter because Jim Thome was sitting for the second straight game against a left-hander. He has a stiff back and may sit again Saturday.

And now Uribe, who at one time in spring training was put on waivers, could get more playing time.

"I haven't played for a long time, but I helped my team," he said. "I'll go home happy about that. If I get a chance to play, that's all I can do, try to help the team."

Sox starter Gavin Floyd lasted 61/3 innings and allowed only four hits. But all of them were home runs, so he left with a 4-2 deficit. Floyd also gave up four homers in his Sox debut last year.

"I didn't feel I pitched that badly," Floyd said.

Floyd and Colorado's Jeff Francis sailed through the first two innings, with the Rockies finally striking in the third on Ian Stewart's first solo shot into the right-field bleachers.

The Sox came back with their first hit an inning later when Orlando Cabrera led off with a homer to left field, giving him hits in 12 straight games.

One inning later, Anderson hit a massive shot to left field, his seventh hit in his last 17 at-bats.

Anderson has learned to accept his part-time role after being a starter two seasons ago.

"A lot of guys would trade playing every day on a team that struggles as compared to splitting time and being on a successful team," Anderson said. "The ultimate goal is to get out there every day, but sometimes you have to just put your ego aside and do what's best for the team. I've learned that role this year and it's paying off."

Anderson struck out with the bases loaded and the Sox behind 4-2 in that fateful seventh, but Uribe followed with his two-run single.

The three-run rally started with a Jermaine Dye single and walks to Nick Swisher and Joe Crede. It was helped along when a passed ball and a wild pitch put Uribe on third before Pierzynski's smash that shortstop Omar Quintanilla couldn't handle.